“He’s prepped and we are ready to proceed whenever you are ready, doctor,” said the anesthesiologist.

  The patient was in an adjacent room waiting for team introductions and the start of the procedure.

  The team of doctors and nurses were reviewing all the data and checking off each item in the process to make sure nothing would be missed.

  To the doctors and nurses present, it was more like a business meeting than a medical process, but it was necessary to ensure optimal care.

  Dr. Richardson was the newest member of the team, added for her expertise with AI and Virtual Reality gear integration. Artifacts Online was the primary contributor to the research facility, and Dr. Simmons wanted to make sure that nothing would point to their generous benefactor when things went wrong.

  “There’s nothing on the checklist about his memory suppression. You didn’t tell him?” Said Dr. Richardson. She handed the chart and procedure checklist to a waiting nurse.

  “I told him, and he didn’t seem bothered by it. We cover it in the agreement he signed,” said Dr. Simmons.

  “Which he didn’t even bother to read,” she said. “He could have given all his organs away to be used in extinct animal recovery research for all he knew.”

  Simmons sighed. “Doctor, the opportunity we are giving him…”

  “But you are suppressing his memories. He will go in blind,” Dr. Richardson interrupted.

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  Simmons nodded.

  “It’s necessary. In order for maximum establishment of new neural pathways matching those of the old ones, he can’t remember the accident or being in a hospital. Not even that we locked him in a game. He can’t go through the rest of the game watching himself knowing what’s going on outside. It would negatively impact the results.”

  “Yes, but we still should have told him,” Richardson frowned.

  “I realize that this is your first operation under these conditions. But the research results so far show this is the optimal course.”

  “Besides, you spoke to him. Do you think he would have changed his mind?” Simmons smiled.

  She shook her head. “I just don’t enjoy doing it without him being aware.”

  Simmons paused for a moment. The rest of the team was waiting, wondering what he would say.

  “Fair point. He wasn’t paying much attention. We could stop the procedure here, but I suspect that would not be what he wants. So, I suggest a compromise. Your field is Human/AI integration. What if you embed part of your personality in his guide? The AI can tell him if he needs to. It will be a shock, but if the AI doesn’t tell him immediately, the damage should be minimal.”

  “This process could take years,” she said. “Synaptic recovery on this level has only been attempted a few times.”

  “That part I went over in detail,” he replied. “He was fine with it.”

  “Really?” Dr. Richardson’s eyebrows rose slightly.

  “Yes,” Simmons said. “I believe his response was, ‘What else have I got to do now but get better? Nobody’s waiting for me on the outside.’”

  “Yes, the accident was a terrible tragedy. It was kind of you to fly him here. And do all of this for him.”

  Simmons nodded.

  “I had the ability, and he presented a unique opportunity.”

  Dr. Richardson nodded.

  “I will take you up on your offer to embed information in the AI chip. A familiar voice might help with the transition.”

  Dr. Simmons smiled.

  “Go right ahead. He’ll be ready for it within an hour. Will that give you enough time?”

  “Yes, if I begin right away.”

  She turned and headed for her offices.

  Simmons watched her walk away, surreptitiously following her curves with an appreciative smile.

  “And she doesn’t suspect a thing.”